LEGAL/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A lawyer for President Donald Trump on Thursday [1-4-18] demanded the author and publisher of a new book featuring scathing criticism of the White House halt its publication and apologize to the president.
In a letter to author Michael Wolff and publisher Henry Holt and Co., Charles Harder said the book contained ‘numerous false and/or baseless statements,’ though it didn’t specify any. He threatened legal action for defamation, invasion of privacy, and other claims.
Mr. Wolff’s book, ‘Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House’—excerpts of which were published in New York Magazine on Wednesday—features personal criticism of the president and some of his top advisers, including several family members. It extensively quotes former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who called a June 2016 meeting between top Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer ‘treasonous’ and aired concerns that missteps by aides could lead to legal jeopardy for the president. The book is set to be published on Jan. 9…
Mr. Wolff and a spokesman for Henry Holt didn’t immediately return a request for comment. A person familiar with the publishing house’s thinking said it stands by the book.”
-Rebecca Ballhaus, “Trump Lawyer Demands Book Critical of President Be Shelved,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 4, 2018 11:37am